Dad sees son fall to death from Cyprus hotel window
Joshua Foster placed his son on a sill for the view, believing the window was closed, a court hears.
Dad sees son fall to death from Cyprus hotel window
The incident happened on the first day of the Essex family's holiday near Paphos in Cyprus
A two-year-old boy died after falling from a five-star hotel in Cyprus when his father put him on a windowsill without realising the window was open, a court has heard.
Joshua Foster, an auditor from Essex, "lost control" of the toddler while showing him the view of a water park, Paphos District Court was told.
The boy fell almost 40ft (12.1m) from the fourth floor of the King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort in Chlorakas on 12 July, the first day of the family's holiday.
Foster, 37, had already pleaded guilty to causing death through a reckless, rash or dangerous act and is due to be sentenced on 16 October.
He appeared at the same court on Tuesday, where the details of the case were outlined during a one-hour hearing.
According to a translation of the court proceedings, Foster, his wife, two children and in-laws arrived in Cyprus in the early hours of that morning.
They spent the day doing a range of activities, including going to the pool, before preparing for dinner in the evening.
As Foster, his father-in-law and son were walking towards a lift, the boy spotted a water park outside.
His lawyer, Alexandros Alexandrou, said they were sharing "a pleasant, joyous moment of their life" when Foster placed the child on a windowsill.
"From that moment, the man's life changed forever," Alexandrou said.
Police received reports of a boy falling from height at the King Evelthon Beach Hotel and Resort at about 18:40 local time
He said the father had not realised that part of the window was open and added: "He was focused on entertaining his child while they were on holiday."
Prosecutor Chryso Pergandi said police were alerted to reports that a child had fallen from height at about 18:40 local time (16:40 BST).
The boy was later declared dead at Paphos General Hospital.
Tests showed Foster, who was held in custody for eight days after the incident, had an alcohol concentration of 124mg in his blood, the court heard.
Alexandrou said that while grieving for his child, Foster had to phone his daughter from custody to explain what had happened.
The lawyer said the moment would "haunt him for the rest of his life".
"This will not end with two, three years of prison. This is a punishment he and his family will bear for the rest of their lives," Alexandrou added.
The court heard the window measured 2.85 metres (9.3ft) wide and 1.2 metres (3.9ft) high.
Foster – who was assisted by a translator during the hearing – sat in the wooden dock and quietly wept as the facts of the case were read out.
Father admits causing death of his son in hotel fall